Effect of wrist-hand orthosis combined with modified constraint-induced movement therapy on upper limb and hand function in patients with stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of wrist-hand orthosis combined with modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) on upper limb and hand function in patients with stroke. MethodsFrom February, 2022 to December, 2023, 32 patients after stroke in Huashan Hospital, Fudan University were randomly assigned to control group (n = 16) and experimental group (n = 16). Both groups underwent routine rehabilitation, and wore constraint glove almost four hours a day. The experimenal group wore dynamic wrist-hand orthosis four hours everyday, additionally; five days every week, for three weeks. They were evaluated with Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Action Reach Arm Test (ARAT), the strength of gripping, Amount of Use (AOU) and Quality of Movement (QOM) of Motor Activity Log (MAL), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) before and after treatment, while root mean square ratio of affected/healthy extensor muscle of wrist was measured with surface electromyography ResultsAfter treatment, the scores of WMFT, ARAT, MAL-QOM, HAMA and the root mean square ratio of affected/healthy extensor muscle of wrist improved in both groups (|t| > 2.179, P < 0.05), and the improvement of WMFT score and the strength of gripping was greater in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.343, P < 0.05); the strength of gripping, the scores of MAL-AOU and HAMD improved in the experimental group (|t| > 2.819, P < 0.05). ConclusionmCIMT assisted with dynamic wrist-hand orthosis could improve upper limb and hand function in stroke patients.